{"id":319,"date":"2020-04-09T10:46:19","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T10:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/?page_id=319"},"modified":"2023-08-15T11:55:37","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T11:55:37","slug":"silver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/silver\/","title":{"rendered":"Silver (Ag)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Silver is a chemical element with the atomic number 47 in the periodic table. It constitutes 0.05 part per million of Earth\u2019s crust and ranks as the 68th most abundant chemical element. The properties of this noble metal have been known even to the ancient civilizations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a member of the transition metals family of elements, this relatively rare precious metal with a high economic value has one valence electron which makes element 47 a chemically inert substance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silver\u2019s most popular use is for making jewelry and silverware. It also has an important application in medicine, as well as in the electrical, electronic, and photographic industries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chemical and Physical Properties of Silver<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
The symbol in the periodic table of elements<\/td>Ag<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic number<\/td>47<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic weight (mass)<\/td>107.87 g.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
Group number<\/td>11<\/td><\/tr>
Period<\/td>5 (d-block)<\/td><\/tr>
Color<\/td>Lustrous white-gray metal<\/td><\/tr>
Physical state<\/td>Solid at room temperature<\/td><\/tr>
Half-life<\/td>From less than 5 milliseconds [>1.5 \u00b5s] to 418(21) years<\/td><\/tr>
Electronegativity according to Pauling<\/td>1.9<\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/td>10.5 g.cm-3 at 20\u00b0C<\/td><\/tr>
Melting point<\/td>961.78\u00b0C, 1763.2\u00b0F, 1234.93 K<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling point<\/td>2162\u00b0C, 3924\u00b0F, 2435 K<\/td><\/tr>
Van der Waals radius<\/td>0.144 nm<\/td><\/tr>
Ionic radius<\/td>0.126 nm<\/td><\/tr>
Isotopes<\/td>40<\/td><\/tr>
Most characteristic isotope<\/td>107Ag<\/td><\/tr>
Electronic shell<\/td>[Kr] 4d105s1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the first ionization<\/td>758 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the second ionization<\/td>2061 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
Discovery date<\/td>The ancient times<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the periodic table symbol Ag, atomic number 47, atomic mass of 107.87 g.mol-1, and electron configuration [Kr] 4d105s1, silver is a soft, very ductile, malleable, and lustrous white-gray metal. It reaches its boiling point at 2162\u00b0C, 3924\u00b0F, 2435 K, while the melting point is achieved at 961.78\u00b0C, 1763.2\u00b0F, 1234.93 K.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This member of the transition metals family of elements has an electronegativity of 1.9 according to Pauling, whereas the atomic radius according to van der Waals is 0.144 nm.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located between copper (Period 4) and gold (Period 6), silver is classified in the Period 5 of the periodic table and shares many chemical properties with its neighboring elements. Together with gold<\/a>, platinum<\/a>, iridium<\/a>, osmium<\/a>, ruthenium<\/a>, and palladium<\/a>, silver also belongs to the group of noble metals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silver metal is characterized by excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, as well as strong anti-corrosive properties. It tarnishes only when exposed to hydrogen<\/a> sulfide and ozone.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Was Silver Discovered?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Silver is one of the first metals whose chemical and physical properties were utilized by ancient civilizations. In fact, silver, gold, copper, lead, and iron<\/a> are the first five metals discovered by ancient civilizations. Throughout history, this noble metal has been used as a remedy for a wide array of medical conditions. Even Hippocrates (460 BC – 370 BC), the father of modern medicine, has observed the <\/span>beneficial properties of silver<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to this Greek physician, silver could heal wounds and prevent various infections and diseases. It\u2019s especially fascinating that the antimicrobial and <\/span>antimicrobial properties of silver<\/span><\/a> have been used prior to the <\/span>discovery of antibiotics<\/span><\/a> with almost equal purpose. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the millennials and different civilizations, silver was almost always second to gold in both value and rank. In Greek mythology, the first and brightest age of man was called the <\/span>Golden Age<\/span><\/a>. The most prosperous time in the history of the world and humanity was followed by less and less prosperous times: the <\/span>Silver Age<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Bronze Age<\/span><\/a>, and the final technological and cultural stage in the Stone Era – the <\/span>Iron Age<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Did Silver Get Its Name?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The name of element 47 is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for silver, \u2018<\/span>seolfor<\/span><\/i>\u2019. In turn, this Anglo-Saxon word stems from the ancient Germanic term \u2018<\/span>silabar<\/span><\/i>\u2019. In the periodic table, silver is classified under the symbol Ag. This abbreviation comes from the Latin word \u2018<\/span>argentum<\/span><\/i>\u2019, i.e. \u2018<\/span>shining, white<\/span><\/i>\u2019, and refers to the physical appearance of silver.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where Can You Find Silver?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Silver is the 65th most abundant chemical element traced in the Universe, while in the layers of our planet it occurs as the 68th most plentiful substance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humans have been mining silver for many millennials. The <\/span>first evidence<\/span><\/a> for exploitation of the natural silver resources date from around 3,000 BCE in Anatolia, now located in modern-day Turkey. Silver metal is often found together with lead in the mineral galena (mainly composed of lead sulfide).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In nature, silver mainly occurs as a compound in the copper, copper-nickel<\/a>, lead, and lead-zinc<\/a> ores. Element 47 typically occurs in four forms:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n